diff --git a/edit/editcmd.c b/edit/editcmd.c
index 420b9f61f..afb052543 100644
--- a/edit/editcmd.c
+++ b/edit/editcmd.c
@@ -814,7 +814,12 @@ edit_load_syntax_file (WEdit * edit)
 			    _(" Which syntax file you want to edit? "), D_NORMAL, 2,
 			    _("&User"), _("&System Wide"));
     }
-    extdir = concat_dir_and_file (mc_home_alt, "syntax" PATH_SEP_STR "Syntax");
+
+    extdir = concat_dir_and_file (mc_home, "syntax" PATH_SEP_STR "Syntax");
+    if (!exist_file(extdir)) {
+	g_free (extdir);
+	extdir = concat_dir_and_file (mc_home_alt, "syntax" PATH_SEP_STR "Syntax");
+    }
 
     if (dir == 0) {
 	char *buffer;